Buddhist Psychological Approach for Sustainable Peace

Abstract

Human society is a dynamic process and the psychological tendencies of human being have made a huge impact for the deterioration of our world. Each and every human being loves and likes to enjoy the peace. At present, many social organizations and other social activities are trying hard to ensure the peace in our world, but their effort still has not strong enough to dawn the peace on human society. Why is it difficult to establish peace in human society? As far as I consider, human beings have become tangled as part of three evil roots. As long as we become a part of three evil roots it is impossible to find the peace in our society.

From Buddhist point of view, it is possible to say that there is not a path for the peace, but the peace is the path for peace. Sutta of DN (II 55) illustrates different psychology causes which lead people to chaotic situation. At the end of discourse, the Buddha explains mass of suffering comes due to negative tendencies of mind. Moreover, in the eye of Buddhism, conflicts and destructive wars are always stemmed from individual’s internal out-flows (āsava) or defilements (kilesa) that are predominantly psychological.

For example, the Madhupiṇḍika Sutta of MN (I 108) demonstrates how worldly people are entangled in unwholesome thoughts along with the entire course of conceptual proliferation (papañca) that jeopardize human life. From Buddhist point of view, in order to establish durable peace in our human realm, first of all we must understand nature of human beings and their psychological needs. From Buddhist sociological point of view, Buddhism suggests principles are good enough rather than personality-based leader or leadership because person would be deteriorated due to some situations. This research will be taken into account how Buddhist principles are strong enough to establish durable peace in our human world.